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Algeria Hostages Killed Along With Militants By Army Air Strikes, Reports Say

Air Strikes Kill 35 Hostages, 15 Militants, Reports Say
This image from video provided by the SITE Intel Group made available Thursday Jan. 17, 2013, purports to show militant militia leader Moktar Belmoktar. Algerian officials scrambled Thursday Jan. 17, 2013 for a way to end an armed standoff deep in the Sahara desert with Islamic militants who have taken dozens of foreigners hostage, turning to tribal Algerian Tuareg leaders for talks and contemplating an international force. The group claiming responsibility called Katibat Moulathamine or the Masked Brigade says it has captured 41 foreigners, including seven Americans, in the surprise attack Wednesday on the Ain Amenas gas plant. Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kabila said the roughly 20 well armed gunmen were from Algeria itself, operating under orders from Moktar Belmoktar, al-Qaida's strongman in the Sahara. (AP Photo/SITE Intel Group) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS PICTURE. MANDATORY CREDIT: SITE Intel Group
This image from video provided by the SITE Intel Group made available Thursday Jan. 17, 2013, purports to show militant militia leader Moktar Belmoktar. Algerian officials scrambled Thursday Jan. 17, 2013 for a way to end an armed standoff deep in the Sahara desert with Islamic militants who have taken dozens of foreigners hostage, turning to tribal Algerian Tuareg leaders for talks and contemplating an international force. The group claiming responsibility called Katibat Moulathamine or the Masked Brigade says it has captured 41 foreigners, including seven Americans, in the surprise attack Wednesday on the Ain Amenas gas plant. Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kabila said the roughly 20 well armed gunmen were from Algeria itself, operating under orders from Moktar Belmoktar, al-Qaida's strongman in the Sahara. (AP Photo/SITE Intel Group) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS PICTURE. MANDATORY CREDIT: SITE Intel Group

The Associated Press reports that 35 hostages and 15 of their captors have been killed during an air raid by the Algerian military.

Reuters reports that 34 hostages and 14 militants were killed per a report by Mauritania's ANI news agency, citing one of the al Qaeda-linked kidnappers.

The details from ANI could not be immediately independently verified, though the news agency has close contact with Katibat Moulathamine, or "Battalion of Blood," the militant group that has claimed responsibility for the mass kidnapping.

Militants with links to al Qaeda attacked a gas installation in Algeria on Wednesday, citing retaliation for the French intervention in Mali as the motive behind the assault. The militants held dozens of Algerians and 41 foreigners hostage, among them seven Americans.

After Thursday's raid by the Algerian military, a spokesman for the militants told Mauritania's ANI news agency that seven foreign hostages are still alive. The foreign hostage count allegedly includes three Belgians, two Americans, a Japanese and a Briton. The number of Algerian hostages was not given.

AP has reported the same figures, per ANI:

Reuters reports that some hostages may have escaped the facility, including two French citizens. The news service adds that about 40 Algerians had been set free.

The BBC added that Algerian forces have freed four foreign hostages, according to Algerian state news agency APS.

More from the Associated Press:

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Islamist militants have told a Mauritanian news outlet that Algerian military helicopters strafed the gas complex where they are holding hostages, killing 35 of the foreigners and 15 of the kidnappers.

The spokesman for the Masked Brigade, which had earlier claimed responsibility for the assault Wednesday on the gas complex deep in the Sahara desert, said Thursday that Abou El Baraa, the leader of the kidnappers, was also killed in the helicopter attack.

The information came from the Nouakchott Information Agency, which has often carried reports from al-Qaida-linked extremist groups.

The militant spokesman said the kidnappers were attacked by Algerian helicopters when they attempted to leave the complex.

The Algerian government would not immediately comment on the standoff and the Associated Press was not able to independently confirm the information.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. CHECK BACK FOR MORE DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

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